The Shelter Cats Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

What do you do when a cat climbs higher than a ladder—or a fire truck—can reach?

In this episode, we’re joined by Duane Hook, a professional tree climber and founder of Cat In A Tree Rescue. Since 2010, Duane has been combining expert arborist techniques with a deep love for animals to bring stranded cats back to solid ground.

Duane walks us through the high-pressure world of canopy rescues, from managing "indoor-only" escape artists to handling senior and feral cats in dense woods. We dive into the specialized safety gear and low-stress techniques required to keep everyone safe when the stakes (and the branches) are high.

In This Episode:

• ​The Art of the Rescue: How Duane uses modern ropes and safety gear to protect the cat and the tree.
• ​Calm in the Canopy: Techniques for reducing fear and stress for animals trapped in high-altitude environments.
• ​Treetop Stories: From backyard maples to "unclimbable" city trees, Duane shares his most memorable missions.

Connect with Duane Hook:

• ​Cat In A Tree Rescue getmeowtahere.com
• ​To donate to Duane: venmo.com/u/getmeowtahere

Support the Show:

• ​Official Merch: Shop Shelter Cats Podcast gear at sheltercatspod.com.
• ​Chewy Affiliate: Help support local shelters and this podcast by making your pet purchases through our Chewy Give Back link.
• ​Follow Michelle (The Meow Maven): Catch her journey on TikTok.

The Team:

• ​Hosts: Dan "The Cat Man" & Michelle "The Meow Maven"
• ​Executive Producer: Stephen Quandt (catbehaviorhelp.com)
• ​Editor: Jacob Haley

Questions or Comments? Email us at: dan@tylerthecat.com or sheltercatspodcast@gmail.com.

Hannah Shaw is an award-winning kitten rescuer, humane educator, and New York Times bestselling author who has dedicated her life to innovating kitten care and protecting the most vulnerable felines.

Through her project, Kitten Lady, she provides educational media, training resources, and instructional workshops that help individuals and animal shelters save the lives of kittens—all in a fun and engaging format. With a social media following of over 4 million, her educational videos serve as a vital training resource for rescues and foster parents across the globe.

Hannah is the author of several acclaimed books, including:

• Tiny But Mighty (2019)

• Cats of the World (2024)

• Cat Got Your Tongue? (2025)

• The Adventures in Fosterland chapter book series (2021-2025)

She is also the founder of Orphan Kitten Club, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that has provided over $4 million in funding to help shelters build innovative programs for neonatal kittens. She lives in California with her husband Andrew Marttila, their cats, and an endless rotation of foster kittens.

Connect with Hannah: 🌐 KittenLady.org 🐾 OrphanKittenClub.org

🛍️ Shop Our Merch: sheltercatspod.com Visit our shop for Shelter Cats Podcast gear and learn more about Dan, Michelle, Stephen, and Jake!

📱 Follow Michelle (The Meow Maven): TikTok Updates

🥫 Shop Chewy & Give Back: We are proud members of the Chewy Shelter and Rescue Affiliate Program. Use our link for your pet needs to support both local shelters and the podcast! 👉 Support us on Chewy here

The Team

• Hosts: Dan "The Cat Man" & Michelle "The Meow Maven"

• Executive Producer: Stephen Quandt (catbehaviorhelp.com)

• Editor: Jacob Haley

Questions or Comments? Email us: dan@tylerthecat.com | sheltercatspodcast@gmail.com

Just when you thought it was safe to turn off your favorite podcast platform, The Shelter Cats Podcast is back with a between-seasons series of mini "Cat Treats" episodes while Michelle the Meow Maven recovers.

In this "Cat Treat," Stephen describes what is called "The Fraidy Cat Club," a special method used at NYC ACC to help extremely scared, hissing cats learn to calm down.

It is possible!

If you would like a printout of The Fraidy Cat Club method, send us an email!

Get well soon, Michelle!To order your own copy of The Farty Feline:https://a.co/d/6DZeJPbFollow Michelle The Meow Maven on her personal TikTok for updates on her journey:http://bit.ly/42m1R8rYour link for all things Shelter Cats Podcast:⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sheltercats⁠⁠The Shelter Cats Podcast has joined the Chewy Shelter and Rescue Affiliate Program!Chewy’s mission is to be the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. Chewy is passionate about supporting animals and making a positive impact in communities across the country. Local shelters and rescues oftentimes serve as a first home or provide continued support to pets. That is why Chewy is committed to supporting organizations that benefit the overall health, safety, and well-being of shelter and rescue animals.Please click the link below to make your Chewy purchases! You’ll not only be helping your local shelter, you’ll also help support the podcast.Thank you, Chewy!https://chewygivesback.prf.hn/click/c...Podcast hosts:Dan The Cat Man. Stephen Quandt, producer .

https://catbehaviorhelp.com/

To learn more about Stephen's appearance at The Ultimate Cat Club Conference, head to this link:

https://truerescue.org/ultimate-cat-conference

Have a question or comment?Send us an email!dan@tylerthecat.com

sheltercatspodcast@gmail.com

Author David Grimm joins the panel!

David Grimm is an award-winning journalist and the Online News Editor of Science, the world’s leading journal of science news and scientific research. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs, which traces the journey of dogs and cats from wild animals to family members, both in our homes and in the eyes of the law. 

David is the recipient of the Animal Reporting Award from the National Press Club and the author of “The Mushroom Cloud’s Silver Lining,” which was featured in The Best American Science and Nature Writing. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Slate, Time, BuzzFeed, The Financial Times, Science, and a variety of other publications. He has a PhD in genetics from Yale University and taught science journalism at Johns Hopkins for more than a decade.

David has written on numerous topics, but his main beat is companion animals. He covers almost everything related to cats and dogs, including their domestication, cognition, and evolving status in society. He also covers topics related to laboratory animals, including rights, welfare, and sentience.

David speaks regularly on the need for more effective scientific communication, both by journalists and scientists. He has spoken on the subject as a Poynter Fellowship distinguished speaker at Yale University, as well as at Johns Hopkins University and at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

David lives in New York with his wife, twin girls, and two cats.

About Citizen Canine: Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs is the critically acclaimed book from award-winning journalist and Science deputy news editor, David Grimm. It has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Slate, Wired, National Geographic, and a variety of other publications. David has also spoken about the book on more than two dozen radio programs, including several national and NPR shows. 

Intro courtesy David Grimm.

Learn more about David Grimm on his website:

https://davidhgrimm.com

Your link for all things Shelter Cats Podcast:https://linktr.ee/sheltercatsThe Shelter Cats Podcast has joined the Chewy Shelter and Rescue Affiliate Program!Chewy’s mission is to be the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. Chewy is passionate about supporting animals and making a positive impact in communities across the country. Local shelters and rescues oftentimes serve as a first home or provide continued support to pets. That is why Chewy is committed to supporting organizations that benefit the overall health, safety, and well-being of shelter and rescue animals.Please click the link in the below to make your Chewy purchases! You’ll not only be helping your local shelter, you’ll also help support the podcast.Thank you Chewy!https://chewygivesback.prf.hn/click/c...Podcast hosts:Dan The Cat Man. Michelle The Meow Maven.Stephen Quandt, Producer, cat behavior specialist from catbehaviorhelp.com

Katy Hansen is the Director of Marketing & Communications for Animal Care Centers of NYC. 

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) is dedicated to ending animal homelessness in New York City. They also provide compassionate refuge for animals in need. Founded in 1995, ACC serves homeless, lost, and neglected animals across all five boroughs—Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island. As the city’s only open-admissions shelter, they welcome every animal, no matter their background or condition. Each year, they care for over 15,000 animals.

You can learn more about ACC on their website:

https://www.nycacc.org

Your link for all things Shelter Cats Podcast:

https://linktr.ee/sheltercats

The Shelter Cats Podcast has joined the Chewy Shelter and Rescue Affiliate Program!

Chewy’s mission is to be the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. Chewy is passionate about supporting animals and making a positive impact in communities across the country. Local shelters and rescues oftentimes serve as a first home or provide continued support to pets. That is why Chewy is committed to supporting organizations that benefit the overall health, safety, and well-being of shelter and rescue animals.

Please click the link in the below to make your Chewy purchases! You’ll not only be helping your local shelter, you’ll also help support the podcast.

Thank you Chewy!

https://chewygivesback.prf.hn/click/camref:1101l534mq

Podcast hosts:

Dan The Cat Man. 

Michelle The Meow Maven.

Stephen Quandt, Producer, cat behavior specialist from catbehaviorhelp.com

Terri Grow, pet sage and feline nutritionist, joins us to dispel the myths regarding the food we feed our cats and offer advice on what a healthy diet should be for our cats.

Terri has spent 30 years in the pet industry, working with veterinarians, trainers, behaviorists and pet parents, all while digging into the inner-workings of the pet food industry and voraciously studying pet nutrition, health and behavior.

As Terri puts it:

"Nutrition is the foundation for health and longevity.The way we feed our pets affects the mind, body, and spirit! This inevitably impacts not just us humans, but the planet as a whole. Do I think the world can be a better place through animals? Absolutely. The way forward? Food! Food is not just about stopping hunger … it’s information for the body! Within the whole food matrix, each nutrient is a database that can nourish and heal."

You can learn more about Terri and book Terri for a consultation at her website:

https://terrigrow.com

Podcast hosts:

Dan The Cat Man.

Michelle The Meow Maven.

Stephen Quandt, producer and cat behavior expert, of catbehaviorhelp.com.

Find all our links for The Shelter Cats Podcast here:

https://linktr.ee/sheltercats

The Shelter Cats Podcast has joined the Chewy Shelter and Rescue Affiliate Program!

Chewy’s mission is to be the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. Chewy is passionate about supporting animals and making a positive impact in communities across the country. Local shelters and rescues oftentimes serve as a first home or provide continued support to pets. That is why Chewy is committed to supporting organizations that benefit the overall health, safety, and well-being of shelter and rescue animals.

Please click the link in the below to make your Chewy purchases! You’ll not only be helping your local shelter, you’ll also help support the podcast.

Thank you Chewy!

https://chewygivesback.prf.hn/click/camref:1101l534mq

Jeff Carstens, feline advocate from Floral Park, New York, joins us to discuss his efforts to overturn feral cat feeding law #7 in Floral Park.

According to Jeff:

"The imposition of law #7 deprives homeless cats of a vital source of food, further endangering their already compromised lives. Communities around the world are adopting TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) programs as humane ways of controlling cat populations, instead of seeking to penalize well-meaning people who offer these animals some respite. It's time the Village of Floral Park did the same. The cats cannot ask for your help, but they need it. The law must be changed. We call on the leaders of the Incorporated Village of Floral Park to immediately overturn feral cat feeding law #7. Under compassionate, thoughtful guidance, we can find a constructive, humane solution to this situation."

You can sign Jeff's petition and learn more about law #7 here:

https://chng.it/5ZPsR7zGdM

Your link for all things shelter cats:

https://linktr.ee/sheltercats

Another in our cat treats series, where we answer one question related to cat behavior!

We posed the following question on our social media and then asked Google Gemini AI:

Why do cats make biscuits?

Join us to find out what everyone and AI thought!

The Shelter Cats Podcast has joined the Chewy Shelter and Rescue Affiliate Program!

Chewy’s mission is to be the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. Chewy is passionate about supporting animals and making a positive impact in communities across the country. Local shelters and rescues oftentimes serve as a first home or provide continued support to pets. That is why Chewy is committed to supporting organizations that benefit the overall health, safety, and well-being of shelter and rescue animals.

Please click the link in the podcast description!  You’ll not only be helping your local shelter, you’ll also help support the podcast. 

Thank you Chewy!

https://prf.hn/l/0eQxNd8/

Your link for all thing shelter cats:

https://linktr.ee/sheltercats

Don't forget to follow so you don't miss an episode.

MEOW!

In our 75th episode, we check in with Michelle to see how she is faring on her breast cancer journey, and we also read your responses that we posed on our social media to the question:

Why do we love cats?

Follow Michelle The Meow Maven on her personal TikTok for updates on her journey:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

http://bit.ly/42m1R8r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We have an all-new website!

https://www.sheltercatspod.com⁠⁠

Visit our shop for Shelter Cats Podcast MERCH! Learn more about Dan, Michelle, Stephen, and Jake and get links!

The Shelter Cats Podcast is part of the Chewy Shelter and Rescue Affiliate Program!

Chewy’s mission is to be the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. Chewy is passionate about supporting animals and making a positive impact in communities across the country. Local shelters and rescues often serve as a first home or provide continued support to pets. That is why Chewy is committed to supporting organizations that benefit the overall health, safety, and well-being of shelter and rescue animals. Please click the link below to make your Chewy purchases! You’ll not only be helping your local shelter, but you’ll also help shttps://urbancatleague.orgupport the podcast.

Thank you, Chewy!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chewy.com/g/give-back?mso...

Podcast hosts:

Dan The Cat Man. 

Michelle The Meow Maven.

Editor: Jacob Haley

Have a question or comment?

Send us an email!

dan@tylerthecat.com

sheltercatspod@gmail.com

sheltercatspodcast@gmail.com

Chloe and Ludvig from the amazing travel YouTube channel Chloe and sometimes Ludvig join me to discuss how their amazing channel got started, what it’s like hosting a travel YouTube channel, and all about their new orange kitten Findus!

Check out Chloe & Ludvig on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/@chloeandludvig

Your link for all things Shelter Cats Podcast:

https://linktr.ee/sheltercats

The Shelter Cats Podcast has joined the Chewy Shelter and Rescue Affiliate Program!

Chewy’s mission is to be the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. Chewy is passionate about supporting animals and making a positive impact in communities across the country. Local shelters and rescues oftentimes serve as a first home or provide continued support to pets. That is why Chewy is committed to supporting organizations that benefit the overall health, safety, and well-being of shelter and rescue animals.

Please click the link below to make your Chewy pet purchases!  You’ll not only be helping your local shelter, you’ll also help support the podcast. 

Thank you Chewy!

https://prf.hn/l/0eQxNd8/